Been there and it's nice weatherwise with Hmong being the largest Asian group

[theking]

 ...so I can see the "hate" towards Hmong..:

CCPD Investigating Vandalism to Hmong Veterans Monument as a Hate Crime, Chief Says

https://wildrivers.lostcoastoutpost.com/2022/oct/19/crescent-city-hmong-veterans-monument-vandalized/

[theking]

Humboldt Asians and Pacific Islanders In Solidarity Respond to Vandalism of Del Norte Hmong Veterans Monument

From Humboldt Asians and Pacific Islanders in Solidarity:

Humboldt Asians and Pacific Islanders in Solidarity (HAPI) strongly condemns the recent vandalism of the Crescent City’s Point of Honor monument honoring Del Norte County Hmong veterans who aided the US in its ‘secret war’ in Laos between 1962 – 1975 (“CCPD Investigating Vandalism to Hmong Veterans Monument as a Hate Crime,” Wild Rivers Outpost, Oct 19, 2022).  Names of the honored veterans were Soua Phia Lo, Vue Vang, Joua Pao Vang and Nao Toua Vue. The monument, only three years old, had been vandalized in the past, but last week it was toppled, broken, and its foundation cracked.

Americans must stand up against these hate crimes. Such vandalism desecrates the sacrifices these veterans made, and is an affront to all war veterans, as well as the Hmong community who have sought to make a home in the ‘land of the free and home of the brave.’ We commend the Del Norte Veterans Council, their representative Kelly Schellong, and the City Council of Crescent City, for prioritizing the repair of the monument, and for consulting with members of the Hmong community as to their thoughts about what a temporary and permanent repair could be.

HAPI expresses great sorrow to the Hmong families of the veterans honored, and to the Hmong community who live in Del Norte County, and would like to pledge support towards a fund for rebuilding the memorial. It is particularly timely with Veterans Day coming up, but it is always timely to speak up against hatred and racism. We stand in solidarity with the Hmong community in Del Norte County and encourage all community members to express their outrage against this cowardly, senseless act and to support the Hmong community as well.

Sincerely,

Patty Saito Hecht, Mitch Higa, Alex Ozaki-McNeill, Vicki Ozaki, Marylyn Paik-Nicely, Amy Uyeki, and Terry Uyeki

[theking]

Jessica Cejnar Andrews / Friday, Oct. 28 @ 5:37 p.m.

Crescent City Will Create a Temporary Monument to Honor Hmong Veterans


Crescent City’s public works department will create a temporary monument honoring Del Norte County’s Hmong veterans, Del Norte Veteran’s Council representative, Kelly Schellong, said.

Nearly two weeks after the original was vandalized, Schellong said she, her colleague, Doug Plack, City Manager Eric Wier and Jason Wylie, of the public works department, met with local Hmong leaders and showed them an idea for a temporary fix.

“We’ll have it looking as good as it can for Veteran’s Day,” Schellong told the Wild Rivers Outpost on Friday. “And then we are going to work with their original vendor to create a new monument.”

According to Schellong, the goal is to make the new monument stronger with four rebar instead of one. The goal is to ensure the monument isn’t easy to remove from the base.

“They talked amongst themselves and they all wanted to make sure we understood how grateful they were that we were making it a priority,” Schellong said. “Everything’s going to move forward and, hopefully, it’ll be a bigger and better monument than ever.”

The Hmong Veteran’s monument had stood among five obelisks, each representing a branch of the military, at Crescent City’s Point of Honor memorial at the corner of Front Street and U.S. 101.

The monument bears the names of Soua Phia Lo, Vue Vang, Joua Pao Vang and Nao Toua Vue and honors those who served in the secret war in Laos between 1961 and 1975.

On Oct. 17, the monument was found knocked off its pedestal, the top half broken and the foundation cracked.

Because it was the only part of the memorial that was damaged, Crescent City Police Chief told the Wild Rivers Outpost the vandalism appeared intentional and his office was investigating the incident as a hate crime.

On Friday, Griffin told the Wild Rivers Outpost that his officers are still exploring some leads. They had asked local businesses if they had surveillance video of the monument, but couldn’t find any, Griffin said.

In addition to the police investigation, Crescent City is working out details with its insurance carrier to replace the former monument, Schellong said. There is also some discussion about a reward to find those who are responsible for the damage, she said.

According to Schellong, she and city employees couldn’t find the top part of the monument leading her to believe that it’s in someone’s possession.

“We’re thinking if we get the word out maybe somebody might see that somebody has it in their possession and maybe they’ll come forward if there’s a reward,” she said.

On Veteran’s Day, there will be a parade starting at the Veteran’s Memorial Hall at 10 a.m. and ending at the Point of Honor monument. From 11-11:15 a.m. there will be a recognition of veteran’s at the monument, according to a flyer with a luncheon to follow at the VFW hall.